Heating shield for all types of airplane engines



July 23, 1946. R. F. MILLER 2,404,394

HEATING SHIELD FOR ALL TYPES OF" AIRPLANE ENGINES s Shetg-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 9, 1945 I RUSSELL F. MILLER July 23, 1946. M E 2,404,394

HEATING SHIELD FOR ALL TYPES OF AIRPLANE ENGINES Filed July 9, 1945 4 3Sheets-Sheet 2 RUSSELL R. F. MILLER July 23, 1946.

HEATING SHIELD FOR ALL TYPES OF AIRPLANE ENGINES Filed July 9, 1945 3Sheets-Sheet 3 RUSSELL F.

'cowling normally admitting the cooling Patented July 23, 1946 HEATING2.404.394 p r SHIELD FOR ALL TYPES AIRPLANE ENGINES oFFica Russell F.Miller, United States Navy Application July 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,993

(cine-110) 7 (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883; as

Claims.

1 This invention relates to shields for engines and particularly toremovable heating shields to be carried as a part of the equipment inthe aircraft for use in connection with any available hot air sup-plyunits for the purpose of warming up the engines preparatory to startingthem in frigid weather, when starting from cold is difficult orimpossible due to the difficulty of vaporizing the fuelin the engine andthe difficulty of turnin theengines over because of the increasedviscosity of the lubricant.

Many devices have been used for prewarming engines for starting in coldweather, but they have usually been awkward and difiicult to assemble,

and. not always available when needed.

- The object of the present invention is to provide simple. removableengine shielding means, to be carried as a part of the. equipment inaircraft powered with internal combustion engines, which are apt to meetwith frigid operating conditions, and which may'have to be started afterhaving been stopped for periods long enough to cool off to unusually lowtemperatures, producing difficult starting without some preliminarywarming process. 7 1

Another object is to provide aircraft with simple easy-to-install engineshielding means, made to fit the opening at the front of the enginea1rstream, allaround the propeller shaft. 1

Another object is toconstruct an aircraft engine shield adapted for easyinstallation, to cover the opening, usually provided in front of theenginecowling for the cooling airstreamfwhich shield may be quicklyremoved and folded for stowing away in the aircraft, and which hasadaptor openings in it for connection to any available hot air supplymeans for warming up the engine prior to starting in cold weather;

Another object is to make the shield above referred to of a foldablesheet, cut in the shape of the airstream opening in front of the enginecowling, except for a strip the width of the propeller shaft and runningfrom the propeller shaft opening down to the edge of the sheet, saidsheet being hinged at the vertical axis above the shaft opening andhaving grooves along the sides of the opening below the shaft forreceptionof a corresponding sheet strip slidable thereinto from thebottom to cover the balance of the airstream opening and to stiffen thesheet against folding at the hinge, there being resilient locking meanson the shield for connecting it to suitable parts of the engine forholding it in place, and shouldered adaptor openings in the shield forconnection to amended April 30, 1928; 3'10 0. G. 75 7) I 2 hot airsupply tubes for Warming up the engine preliminary to starting it incold weather.

Other and more specific objects will become apparent in the followingdetailed description of the invention, having reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein: V

Fig. 1 shows an aircraft with, engines of the radial type, to the'enginecowlings of which one form of the presentinvention is applied;

Fig. 2 shows the shield by itself, as it appears when assembled in placeon the cowling;

' Figs. 3 and 4 show itsgparts as they appear ready for stowing away; I

Fig. 5 shows a shield assembly for use on another engine unit, and

Figs. 6 and ,7 are the parts of the above form, disassembled and folded,ready for stowing away. Referring to the several figures in the drawingsin which like parts are designated by the same numerals, the shieldingmeans generally comprise a sheet I of material such as metal, metal withinsulating lining or. some .stiif insulating material, etc., cut inthe'shape of the opening 2 around the propeller shaft 3 in front of theengine lcowling 4 on which it is to be used. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4,this shielding means'is designed for use on one type of radial aircraftengines and has two symmetrical portions 5 and 6 hinged at thesymmetrical axis .1 above the propeller shaft opening 8, and cut awaybelow the propeller shaft opening to a width equal to at least-thediameter of'the propeller shaft opening.

'The-isides' of this cut away portion arepro- The two symmetricalportions 5 and B have openings-lZIand 'IB-fitted with collars l4 and I5for connectionto hot: air supply tubes l6 and I1 used in connection'witha hot air supply means I9, 20, 2| and 22 are provided on thesesymmetrical portions for hooking them to parts of the engine so as tohold the assembly in place. The strip II which is slid into the grooves9 and I0 at the sides of the cut away portion below the propeller shaftserves to stiffen the assembly and to prevent it from bending at thehinges 23. The sheet material making up the assembly is ribbed and/orcrimped around the edges to stifi'en the parts so that they may be madefrom comparatively thin sheet material and still have the requiredstiffness for holding their shape.- The just stiff sheets of insulatingcomposition of any suitable type. It has been found practicable to usestainless steel or galvanized iron sheets .040

inch in thickness." v

For each type .of aircraft enginecowling, a

shielding means may be designed in the same way, with appropriatelocking means for hooking on to suitable parts of the engine in the,

particular type of construction.

Many modifications in the shape and dimensions of the parts of theseshieldingmeans might I be made without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

4 t to complete the closure of the airstream open-- ing all around thepropeller shaft, said shielding means having means forming shoulderedopenings adapted for connection with heat supply tubes.

,3. An aircraft engine shielding means for use in connection with engineheaters comprisin a sheet of material cut in the form of the airstreamshaft opening, means forming grooves along the sides of said slot, astrip of For example, Figs. 5 to 7 illustrate one other form of theshield means designed fQr -use on a small engine unit, as installed-onsome other types of aircraft. The outline of this shield is practicallycircular and much smaller. The .propeller shaft is comparatively malland requires only'a very narrow cut away portion for the slidable'strip- H which .fits Vin-the grooves 9 and H3 and holds the two h'ingedportions 5 and 6 stiflly in extended position, The locking means I9, 20,2 and 22 in this case are shaped in ac-.-

cordance with vsuitable projecting parts on the engine which is tobe-shielded.

7 The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orforthe Government of theUnited States of America for governmentalpurposes Without the payment .of any royalties thereon or therefor. l

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft engine shielding means for use in connection withengineheaters, comprising a sheet of material cut in the form of the airstreamopening at the front of the engine .cowling on which it is toibe usedand fitting over the propeller shaft by means: of a cut away slot 1below the propeller shaft opening, mean forming grooves along the sidesofsaid slot, said sheet being formed of .two partsumeans hinging saidparts together on the vertical axis above the proif peller shaftopening, and a strip ofsheet maa terial fitted to slide in said grooveswhenzthe hingediparts' are in place, to complete the clo- I sure ,of theairstream opening all around the propeller shaft, "said shieldinglmeanshaving meansforming shouldered openings for connection to heater tubes.applied from-the outside,

2.;An aircraft engine shieldin means for use 1 sheet material fitted toslide in said grooves to complete the closure of the airstream openingall around the propeller shaft, said shielding means having means forforming shouldered :openings adaptedfor connection with heat supinconnection with engineheaters comprisingfi j 1 sheet of material cut inthe form of theeairstream opening at the front of the engine Cowling onpeller shaft by means of a cut away slot below the propeller shaftopening, "means forming grooves alon the sides of said slot, and a stripof sheet material fitted tofslide in said grooves ply tubes, andresilient locking means mounted on said sheet material for hooking ontoprojecting engine .parts :to hold the shield in place.

'4. An aircraft engine shieldingmeans for use in connection witheengineheaters comprising a sheet .of material .cutin the form of the airstreamopening at the :front vof the engine cowling on which it is to :be usedand .fitting over the propeller shaft by means of a .;cut awayslot belowthe propeller shaft opening, .mean forming groovesalong thesides ;ofsaid slot, a strip .of sheet material fitted to slide :in said grooves.to complete the closure of the airstream opening all aroundthepropeller shaft, said shielding means having eans forming shoulderedopenings adapted for connection. withheat supply .tubes, and resilient,locking means mounted on, said sheet material for hooking ontoprojecting engine partsto hold theshield in place, said sheet material.being crimpedlaroundits edges .to stiffen theassembly.. Y v .5. vAnaircraft engine :shieldin means for use in .connection withengineheaters .comprisinga sheet .of material cut in'theyform-of the airstreamopening at the front .ofthe engine cowling on whichit is to he used andfittingover .the;propeller shaft with a cut away slot below the.pro-'peller. shaft opening, means forming grooves along the sides of ,said.slot, said sheet'bemg formed of ,two parts, means hinging said partstogether .on the vertical axis. above ;-.the :propeller shaft opening,and a strip of .sheet materialffltted to ,slidein said grooves when thehinged'parts are in; place to pomplete the :closure of the RUSSELL a i

